The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce on February 13, issued a letter to Illinois's Congressional Delegation in opposition to a proposal in the federal surface transportation reauthorization bill to eliminate the Mass Transit Account of the Highway Trust Fund.

"The Chicagoland's business community relies on the region's mass transit systems, Metra, Pace and the CTA to transport both customers and employees," said Jerry Roper, President and CEO of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce. "Mass transit is the centerpiece of our economy and federal funding helps keep it affordable for everyone to use."

According to a release on February 13, the current proposal in Congress calls for eliminating the 2.86 cent per gallon contribution to the Mass Transit Account. The Chamber refers to a study sponsored by the American Public Transportation Association which equates for every $1 billion spent on capital projects over 28,000 jobs are supported and created. The Chicagoland's mass transit agencies rely on the Mass Transit Account to support funding their capital projects.

"In a time when our country needs jobs, we need push Congressional leaders to figure out ways to provide more funding for mass transit projects to keep the economy moving, not stop it in its tracks," said Roper on the reason for sending the letter.

The Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce is a private, non-profit business assistance and economic development organization.